Fountain brush



V. E. DIEBOLD FOUNTAIN BRUSH Oct. 15, 1968 Filed June 20, 1966 INVENTOR l/AL E/VT/lVE E [7/550L0 ATTORN Y United States Patent 3,405,997 FOUNTAIN BRUSH Valentine E. Diebold, 9649 Coyle, Detroit, Mich. 48227 Filed June 20, 1966, Ser. No. 558,769 1 Claim. (Cl. 401-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fountain brush consisting of a tufted scrubber head connectable to a source of pressurized fluid and having therein a pair of independent chambers. One of such chambers directs fluid to the working face of the scrubber head through a central array of discharge ports, and the other chamber selectively supplies a liquid cleaning agent to the working face by means of a fluid pump mounted in the scrubber head.

This invention relates to fountain brushes generally, and more particularly to a hand operated brush of such type suitable for use in washing vehicles, awnings, lawn furniture and other similar items.

It is customary for most home owners periodically to wash their storm windows, screens, lawn furniture, and other items exposed to the elements. This cleaning operation customarily comprises two steps, which consist of a washing procedure, with soap and a detergent, followed by a clear water rinse, usually performed with a hose. To achieve optimum results, the soap or detergent should not be permitted to dry before the rinsing operation is performed.

In such a cleaning operation, the two indicated steps are repeated until the entire task of refurbishing has been completed. Such a repetitious procedure consequently consumes more time than would be required if the washing steps and rinsing steps could be performed in rapid succession with a single implement.

The applicant therefore has, as the primary object of his invention, the provision of a fountain brush with a self-contained means for selectively applying soap and detergent in the course of repetitive washing and rinsing cycles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type previously described, which has a finger tip water control valve so that a rinsing operation can be conveniently performed immediately upon completion of a washing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type previously described which is compact, easy to manipulate, and avoids all contact of the person with the water, soap or detergent.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type previously described which is rugged in construction and relatively inexpensive to produce.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent after consideration of a detailed discussion of the same composed with reference to the drawings constituting a portion of this application, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the applicants fountain brush showing its characteristic shape.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, taken substantially on plane 22 in FIGURE 1, showing the location of the pump in the scrubber head.

FIGURE 3 is a section view taken substantially on plane 3-3 in FIGURE 2, showing internal construction of the scrubber head.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the scrubber head, taken substantially on plane 44 in FIGURE 1, showing the 3,405,997 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 relative positions of the pump nozzle and the discharge ports in the scrubber head.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing structural details of the pump in the scrubber head.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on plane 66 in FIGURE 2, showing structural details of the water control valve.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which numeral 10 designates a circular scrubber head having therein an annular array of downwardly disposed discharge ports 12, and a plurality of bristle tufts 14. A tubular handle 16 is moulded integral with the scrubber head 10, and provides in conjunction therewith, two separate internal chambers 18 and 20.

A liquid pump 22, mounted in the forward end of the scrubber head 10, has a tubular barrel 24 disposed in the internal chamber 18, and extending through an opening 26 in the forward wall. A circular flange 28, on the barrel 24 of the pump 22, seats on the inside wall of the chamber 18. A nozzle 30 provides communication between the interior of the barrel 24, and the tufted side of the scrubber head 10.

A reciprocable plunger 32, in the barrel 24, has an axial stem 34 provided with a terminal push button 36. A ball closure valve 38, in the back end of the barrel 24, is held in seat by a compressed coil spring 40 positioned on the plunger 32. A cap 42 is threadably engaged on the forward end of the barrel 24, so as to hold the circular flange 28 in sealing engagement with the inner wall of the chamber 18.

A filler opening 44, in the upper wallof the chamber 18 has threaded thereon, a removable cap 46. A control valve 48, having an operator handle 50, is mounted in the forward portion of the tubular handle 16. A standard female hose connector 52, is provided on the back end of the tubular handle 16 for attachment to a water supply hose not here shown.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structural details of the applicants invention as herein disclosed; however, to insure a more thorough appreciation and understanding of the subject matter herein presented, a brief discussion will be directed to the manner in which the applicants device operates in performing its intended function, so as to make possible the realization of all objectives set forth in the introduction of this specification.

In use, the applicants fountain brush is connected to a convenient pressurized source of water by means of the hose connector 52. The removable cap 46 is then detached from the scrubber head 10, and a quantity of liquid soap or detergent poured into the internal chamber 18 through the filler opening 44. The cap 46 is then replaced, and the operator handle 50 on the water control valve 48 turned to the off, or broken line position 54, shown in FIGURE 2.

The water supply, not here shown, is then turned on and the applicants scrubber head 10 is placed in contact with the surface to be cleaned. The water control valve 48 in the tubular handle 16 is then manipulated so as to provide sufiicient water to wet thoroughly a sizeable area of the surface to be cleaned. The water control valve 48 is then turned off, and the push button 36 on the pump 22 is pressed a sufiicient number of times to deposit the desired quantity of soap or detergent.

Proper manipulation of the scrubber head 10 will spread the soap or detergent so as to produce a suds or lather which will effectively loosen the dirt and soil from the surface. The water control valve 48 is then immediately shifted to allow water to enter the internal chamber 20 and flow from the discharge ports 12 to provide a rinsing spray. At the conclusion of the rinsing operation, the

3 above cycle is repeated until the entire cleaning process has been completed.

In practice, it has proven desirable to use a small quantity of wax mixed with the detergent or soap so as to accomplish simultaneously a cleaning and a polishing operation. It has also proven advantageous to insert a section of light weight pliable tubing between the fountain brush and the unwieldable water supply hose to facilitate manipulation, thus making the device more adaptable for use by women and children. It may be preferable for some purposes to vary the spray pattern, or even replace the discharge ports 12. with a nozzle to intensify the rinsing operation.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinion that his invention has fulfilled a long-felt need in the field 0f fountain brushes, and that he has accordingly made a valuable contribution to the related art. However, while the invention was described with reference to the structural details of a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other practical adaptations.

Therefore, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A fountain brush comprising a scrubber head having a tufted working face, a centrally disposed array of discharge ports in the tufted working face, a first chamber in the scrubber head communicating with the discharge ports, a tubular handle on the scrubber head connectable to a source of pressurized fluid and communicating with first chamber, valve means on the handle controlling com- 'munication between the tubular handle and the first chamber, a second chamber in the scrubber head disposed forwardly from the first chamber and adjacent the working face, a nozzle providing communication between the second chamber and the tufted working face, and a liquid pump in the forward end of the scrubber head controlling flow through the nozzle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,053 5/1913 Strong 15-524 1,262,539 4/1918 Micka 15524 1,512,740 10/1924 Baker 15-524 1,739,872 12/1929 5085 15-52 2,028,214 1/1936 Hennessy 15-524 2,028,242 1/ 1936 Pearl 15--524 2,072,175 3/1937 Mednick 15524 2,250,878 7/1941 Quaranti 15-524 3,142,084 7/1964 McMullen 15524 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT 1. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

